Students can opt for vocational course instead of English

In a major decision benefiting students appearing for the SSC board exams, the state government has made vocational courses an option for the English subject, which is the second language.

The same will be implemented this year in 134 schools in the state. Students from non-English medium schools will now have the option of opting for a vocational subject instead of English while students from English medium schools have the option of opting for the vocational subject in place of second or third language. The order further states that apart from this, students regardless of which medium they are from can opt for a vocational subject instead of the social sciences subject too.

Sources in the education department said that vocational educational will be made compulsory for all students of secondary and higher secondary education to ensure they are aware of at least one vocational skill set along with the chosen field of studies. This decision has been made mandatory and will be implemented in a phased manner.

According to the order issued by the school education and sports department, the Central government had started Vocational Education at the Secondary and Higher Secondary stage scheme in 2013-14, wherein vocational education was made a compulsory subject for class IX and X students.

Based on this order, the state government under the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) got permission from the Centre to include vocational studies as a compulsory subject in 134 schools in the state from the academic year 2016-17.

According to an official from the school education department, the decision was in line with the NSQF, which stipulates that students at the secondary level should learn at least one vocational subject.

“The main aim behind the NSQF is to ensure that students learn about one vocational subject so that after completing their education in their chosen academic field they are armed with the knowledge of a vocation too. By this they will have the option of opting for the service sector if they fail to succeed in the field of their choice,” said the official.

In 2010-11 the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had mooted the idea of including vocational subjects in the secondary, higher secondary and higher education stage.

However, the same did not see the light of the day till 2013-14 when the previous government implemented the NSQF.